This is your hope at goaltender…You’re only hope.

So we missed a week and had to catch up. Hey, things were happening. We all lose track of time every now and then. At least Gary and Don got this whole lockout thing done so we could have hockey to catch up on. It’s been an eventful couple of weeks.

Under the guidance of Wayne Gretzky, the Oilers continue their astonishing turnaround despite not having Taylor Hall, the NUGE or Jordan Eberle. They lead Smythe division by five points, the largest lead in a division through about 14 games per team so far.

As for the Red Wings, this Yzerman guy is phenomenal. He leads the Red Wings in goals, is tied for the lead in assists and no one is within seven points of him. Whoever decided to make him captain before the season and deserves a raise. He could be around here for the next 15 years, at least/ Like I said last time we convened, I get the feeling he’ll develop into a two-way player that sacrifices his personal stats for the team too.

Right now, the Red Wings need him to score. And he is, averaging more than a point per game. Also scoring, albeit he’s dropped off a bit: Petr Klima. Sign him long term.

The biggest thing I’m worried about is the lack of production from the blue line.  I mean Darren Veitch and Doug Halward can distribute, but does Demers really thing the power play and the team is going to be effective with the defense contributing just two goals in 14 games?

That Chelios guy scored when Montreal came to down. Maybe the Red Wings can swing a deal to pick him up. He’d be a solid pickup.

Speaking of trades, can we please get a backup goalie in here who isn’t a complete abomination in pads? Jesus. Not since the days of the illustrious Norm Miracle can I remember the Red Wings having a solid backup. Greg Stefan has won the starting job outright. He’s solid. That’s it. The Red Wings are going to have to play him everyday if Glen Hanlon and his .865 save percentage hang around any longer. At least let Darren Eliot get a little more time before sending Hanlon out to get lit up again. Sometimes I don’t know what this team and its management is thinking.

They’re lucky we’re only about a fourth of the way into the season. Sure, they’ll make the playoffs (the Blues are terrible) but I can’t see them doing anything more than that right now.

Look at the statisical breakdown. It’s very…hmm…shall we say Yzerman heavy:

POINT LEADERS

Steve Yzerman, C: 17

Petr Klima, RW/LW: 10

Bob Probert, LW: 10

Gerard Gallant, LW: 9

GOAL LEADERS

Steve Yzerman, C: 11

Petr Klima, RW/LW: 9

Brent Ashton, LW: 5

Bob Probert, LW: 4

Shawn Burr, LW/C: 4

ASSIST LEADERS

Doug Halward, D: 7

Darren Veitch, D: 7

Steve Yzerman, C: 6

Bob Probert, LW: 6

Gerard Gallant, LW: 6

GOALTENDING STATS

STANDINGS

FULL RED WINGS STATS

Forwards                             GP          Goals     Assists  PTS

Ashton, Brent    LW          14           5              2              7

Barr, Dave           RW         8              0              4              4

Bridgman, Mel  C             7              0              1              1

Burr, Shawn       LW/C     14           4              3              7

Chabot, John     C             14           1              4              5

Gallant, Gerard LW          13           3              6              9

Graves, Adam   LW          8              0              0              0

Higgins, Tim        RW         6              0              1              1

Klima, Petr          RW/LW 14           9              1              10

Kocur, Joe           RW         7              1              0              1

Kumpel, Mark   RW         6              0              2              2

Martinson, S.     LW          4              1              0              1

Murphy, Joe      RW         12           2              4              6

Oates, Adam      C             12           0              5              5

Probert, Bob      LW          14           4              6              10

Yzerman, SteveC             14           11           6              17

Defense                               GP          Goals     Assists  Points

Delorme, G.       D             14           1              0              1

Halward, Doug  D             14           0              7              7

Lewis, Dave        D             6              0              0              0

Norwood, Lee   D             9              1              0              1

O’Connell, MikeD             13           0              4              4

Sharples, Jeff     D             6              0              2              2

Veitch, Darren   D             11           0              7              7

Zombo, Rick       D             10           0              0              0